Wheeled toy



R. TROXELL WHEELED TOY March 29, 1927.

Filed July 28, 1926 Patented Mar. 29, 1927.

UNITED STATES REW TROXELL, OF LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA.

WHEELEI) TOY.

Application filed July 28,

My invention is a wheeled toy aeroplane preferably constructed of wood, forming a toy to be pulled along the ground or the like by children.

An object of my invention 18 to form a toy aeroplane having wheels and a propeller in which the action of the wheels in rolling over the ground rotates the propeller. A specific feature of my invention in this regard is in loosely mounting the wheels on the fuselage structure so that these may be readily removed, mounting the propeller on the shaft and linking an elastic driving belt or band over pulleys on the wheel axles, and the propeller shaft so that the rotation of the wheels rotates the propeller. The propeller shaft has a readily disconnectable, mounting so that a new elastic band may be readily installed.

Another feature of my invention is forming a hollow bodied structure by cutting a section completely out of a bloclqremoving the center portions of the cut-out section and inserting the side parts forming the sides of the fuselage.

Another feature of my invention is in attaching the wings to the said structure.

My invention is illustrated in the following drawings, in which:

Figure 1 1s a perspective view;

Fig. 2 is a longitudinal section through the center of the aeroplane;

Fig. 3 is a bottom view taken in the direction of the arrow 3 of Fig. 2;

Fig. 4 is a cross section on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2 in the direction of the arrows.

The aeroplane is constructed with a fuselage 1 having a hollow portion 2, this being made by bodily cutting a part out of the block on the line 3 transversely across the fuselage. Parts are then removed from the center of this cut-out section leaving side walls which are replaced forming the side walls 4 and a block 5 if desired adjacent the tail section. Part of the material removed may be cut to form a seat 6 which is located in the hollow body and wings 7 are secured to the seat by a nail or the like having preferably notches 8 fitting over the side walls 4.

A vertical strip preferably of wood 9 imitates a vertical stabilizing fin and horizontal strips 10 simulate horizontal stabilizing fins or rudders. These may also be regarded as the vertical and horizontal rudders.

The manner of making the hollow body 1926. Serial No. 125,403.

is somewhat similar to that described in my application Serial N o. 77 2538 filed December 23, 1925, for hollow bodied wooden toys and the like and the method of making.

The underneath portion of the block forming the fuselage has a deep slot 11 which extends from the seat to the front end 12 of the fuselage. A strip of wood 13 is fitted in the base of this slot and secured by nails or the like to the hood section 14, having a cap 14 simulating a radiator cap, this representing the position of the engine structure of an aeroplane. An eye 15 is secured to the strip 13 at the rear end and a book 16 at the forward end. The propeller shaft 17 extends through the eye and the hook having a head 18 at the rear end preventing the shaft from pulling forward. A

disc 19 is positioned loosely on the shaft at the front end of the hood and a propeller 20 is attached to the shaft.

A pair of bearing blocks 21 which are formed U-shaped in cross section and open at the bottom are fitted in the fuselage on 30 each side of the slot 11. The axle 22 having wheels 23 secured to the end and a pulley 24 positioned in the center are inserted in the U-shaped bearing. An elastic band forming a driving belt 25 passes over the g5 pulley and around the shaft 17. This band is inserted by removing the axle wheels and pulley from the bearing, disengaging the propeller shaft from the hook 16 and passing the elastic over the propeller and the disc 19, then reassembling the axle in position, the pulley fitting in the slot 11. In this construction the tension of the elastic band holds the axle properly in its hearing.

A pair of apertures 26 are formed in the wings adjacent its end and have cords 27 leading therefrom which are joined to a pulling cord 28 having a V-shaped connection 29 therewith.

The action of my toy is substantially as follows:

lVhen a child pulls on the cord 28, this draws the aeroplane along the ground, the cords 27 being spaced sufficiently far apart to clear the propeller and as the wheels are rotated in contact with the ground the elastic band rotates the propeller shaft and thereby the propeller. The toy thus simulates a real aeroplane when taxiing.

It will be apparent that the renewing of the elastic bands is readily accomplished and that these may readily be fitted by a child.

It is also obvious that this type of driving device in which wheels having an axle with a pulley thereon are held in an open hearing by the tension of an elastic, may be utilized to operate shafts or the like driving various other rotating mechanisms of a simple character.

The various features of my invention may therefore be considerably changed to make different types of toys. These features would however be within the spirit of my invention as set forth in the description, drawings and claims.

Having described my invention, what I claim is:

1. An aeroplane toy comprising in combination a fuselage structure, a loosely mounted axle having a pulley and wheels secured thereto, a propeller shaft, a propeller secured thereto, and a band passing over the pulley and the propeller shaft, said band retaining the axle in position.

2. A toy aeroplane comprising in combination a fuselage, an axle having wheels mounted in an open bottom journal, a propeller shaft having a propeller and a resilient band passing around the axle and the propeller shaft, said band retaining the axle in position.

3. A toy aeroplane comprising a fuselage having an open bottom bearing, an axle fitted therein having wheels and a pulley, a propeller shaft having a propeller, and an elastic band passing over the pulley and the propeller shaft, the band holding the axle in its bearing.

4. A toy aeroplane having a fuselage with a longitudinal slot in its lower surface at the front, axle bearings open at the bottom at each side of the slot, an axle having wheels and a pulley, the pulley fitting within the $1013, a propeller shaft having longitudinal bearings positioned in the slot, and an elastic band taking over the pulleys and the propeller shaft, the hand holding the axle in its bearings.

5. A toy aeroplane as claimed in claim 4, bearings for the propeller shaft co1nprising an eye at one end and a hook at the other end.

6. A toy aeroplane having a fuselage structure with a slot extending upwardly from the lower surface at the forward end, a strip of wood or the like fitted in the slot, a pro peller shaft extending longitudinally of the slot and having an enlarged head at one end and a propeller secured thereto at the for ward end, an eye forming a bearing for one end of the shaft and a hook forming a hearing for the other end, axle bearings having openings at the bottom on each side of the slot, an axle journaled in said bearings having a pulley fitted in the slot, and wheels on the end, and an elastic band taking over the pulley and the shaft, the band holding the axle in its bearings.

7. A toy aeroplane comprising a fuselage having a hollow bodied portion, a seat fitted therein, a wing; structure extending transversely across the fuselage secured to the top of the seat, there being a longitudinal slot extending upwardly from the lower surface of the fuselage at the forward end, the said slot opening into the hollow body in front of the seat, a propeller shaft journaled' in the slot and extending longitudinally thereof having a propeller at the forward end, an axle having a pulley and wheels loosely journaled in the fuselage having the pulley in the slot, and an elastic band taking over the pulley and the shaft, the band holding the axle in its bearings.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification.

RE vV TROXELL. 

